Josh Jung singled home the deciding run with two outs in the eighth inning as the Texas Rangers did just enough to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Tuesday in in Arlington, Texas.
Six Rangers pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout despite starter Nathan Eovaldi leaving after two innings with what the term termed as right triceps fatigue.
Jung’s game-winning hit was delivered off Blue Jays reliever Chad Green (1-1) and came after Kyle Higashioka began the surge with a one-out single. Pinch runner Sam Haggerty took over for Higashioka and stole second. After a groundout and an intentional walk to Wyatt Langford, Jung punched his hit to center field.
The Rangers got am insurance run immediately after when Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk airmailed a pickoff throw toward third base, allowing Langford to trot home.
Robert Garcia struck out two in the ninth to earn his third save of the year as Texas bounced back from a 2-1 loss in the opener of the three-game series on Monday. The Rangers have won two of their past three games after losing a season-worst six in a row.
Texas outhit the Blue Jays 6-4.
Toronto has scored a combined four runs in its past five games, losing four of those contests.
Eovaldi left after 39 pitches, having allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two. He is not expected to miss his next scheduled start, according to the Rangers.
Eovaldi was followed to the mound by Jacob Latz (two hits, two walks and four strikeouts in three-plus innings), Shawn Armstrong (two walks in 1 2/3 innings), Hoby Milner (one-third of an inning) and Luke Jackson (1-4), who allowed a walk in his one-inning appearance.
Toronto starter Bowden Francis pitched five-plus innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out six.
The Blue Jays went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.
–Field Level Media
